Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Nya stood silently by the front of the class, her gaze sweeping over her students. Behind her, a power point presentation showcased a pivotal moment in their history. “The Final Battle was the battle to end all battles. After their destructive confrontation when the Golden Ninja defeated The Overlord, much of Ninjago City was in ruin.”

Her gaze focused on the attention of each student, each of them watching attentively as she taught, over the past few months of teaching, she had garnered a reputation for being a no-nonsense teacher, tolerating little to no pranks in her classes. “It was a time to reflect on our past and build for the future, over a year, rapid technological advancements unlocked great secrets and soon, Ninjago City become New Ninjago City.”

The next slide showed an image of her and the others shortly after the Final Battle. “With The Overlord gone and the other threats neutralised or disappeared, there was no enemy to fight and the age of the ninja came to an end.”

She closed the projector, sweeping her gaze over her students, glancing at the clock, she sighed, class would be out soon. “Remember to read pages 175-195.” The bell rang out and she took her leave after the students, walking down the hallways towards the staff room.

Before she entered, she glanced at her phone, a single notification confirming their field trip had been approved. Entering the room, she noted the others had already arrived, each of them quickly convening on their breaktime meals. Jay was quickly by her side, she narrowed her gaze, snatching the pudding cup from him swiftly before glancing over the others. “Did you guys hear the news?”  She questioned, finishing off the pudding.

“Danger?”

“There’s trouble?”

“An emergency?”

“Oh, a new menace?”

She shook her head, tossing away the remains of the pudding cup. “No, we got clearance for a field trip.” She noted their groans, she somewhat agreed, missing their days of adventure, being slightly envious of her little brother’s ability to tour Ninjago, but she had a feeling the others would agree that this field trip was worth it. “Not just any field trip, a field trip to tour Borg Industries.”

Jay’s eyes widened, a fire of anticipation burning within them. “Not the Borg Industries, as in home to the super genius reclusive savant Cyrus Borg?” She rolled her eyes at Jay’s evident fanboying of the inventor. “Inventor of the hover car and everything else cool in the world?”

A sigh of relief escapes everyone’s lips when Zane kicks’ the back of Jay’s knee, shutting him up. “Yes, if we want to make sure we have enough time to see everything, we should get going after break.”

New Ninjago City was certainly different, the former buildings she’d remembered from the last time they were in the city were gone, replaced with towering skyscrapers, the streets filled with hover cars and other advanced technological inventions.

She was amazed at how quickly things had changed over the past year, being knocked out of her thoughts when the bus made impact with a passing van. “Who here still uses wheels? Get with the program!” She recognised the voice of the postman, raising an eyebrow at his choice of words, evidently he wasn’t aware that not everywhere in Ninjago used hover vehicles yet.

Cole leapt from the buss, approaching the van. “Don’t worry, we’ll free you up.” She watched him grab the van. “Time for some old-school muscle tool.” Using his immense strength, he lifted the van, moving it away from the bus.

As he dropped the van back to the ground, a robot materialised behind him. “Stand back, pedestrian.”

Cole gave a huff of indignation, his annoyance clear in his expression at the robots words. “Who are you calling pedestrian?”

With a shake of his head, Zane glanced out over the city. “It appears our help is not welcome.” He noted, watching the robot inspect for any signs of damage.

Nya moved, following Wu as he stepped out of the bus. “Well, I prefer travelling the old-fashioned way.” He began to walk, herding them towards Borg Industries. “On foot, besides, it’s not like we can’t find where we’re going.”

The Mistress of Fire and Water glanced up at the towering structure of Borg Industries, noting its immense height made it tower above the rest of the city. As she took it in, the feeling of being watched made itself known, a feeling she hadn’t felt in weeks. Sneaking in beside Jay, she glanced at her boyfriend. “That feeling of being watched is back.” The Master of Lightning nodded, discreetly glanced around the area but finding no sign of their mysterious stalker.

As they entered Borg Industries, Nya noted a female Nindroid approach them. “Welcome to Borg Industries. I’m P.I.X.A.L, Cyrus’ Primary Interactive X-ternal Assistant Life-form. I’m sorry to hear about the traffic accident.”

From behind, she could hear Cole hum in surprise. “Wow, news travels fast.” Nya nodded in agreement, still recalling how quickly her role in The Overlord’s defeat reached Ignacia.

“Everything in New Ninjago City is fully automated and interconnected. Your antiquated bus should be ready shortly.” Nya noted P.I.X.A.L turn her attention towards Zane. “You are Zane, a Nindroid like me. What does Zane stand for?”

Nya watched Zane closely, watching his reaction in the face of Borg’s assistance. “I stand for peace, freedom and courage in the face of all who threaten Ninjago.”

Jay was quick to poke Zane in the side. “She means your name, tin head.”

Zane hummed, narrowing his eyes as he thought about it. In the end, he sighed. “I guess I’m just Zane.”

P.I.X.A.L nodded, glancing over him. “Permission to scan?”

Zane debated with himself for a brief few seconds. “Uh… permission granted?” He sounded unsure, somewhat hesitant as he answered her unusual request.

From beside her, she heard Jay snicker. “Check it out, Zane has an admirer.” She elbowed him in the side, keeping him quiet.

P.I.X.A.L wasted no time, scanning Zane from head to toe, her gaze never once leaving the original Nindroid. “Your hardware is outdated and your processor is slow and incompatible with ours.” She noted, going over him again.

“Peculiar.” Nya lifted her head up, tilting it to the side as she observed the interaction. “All Nindroids must recharge our batteries, yet curiously, I’m unable to locate your energy source.” P.I.X.A.L, despite the lack of emotion, sounded confused. “What powers you?”

Zane frowned, glancing at the others briefly. “I, uh… I don’t know.”

P.I.X.A.L nodded, seemingly unsatisfied with the answer but didn’t push it, instead turning her attention back towards the group. “Mr. Borg would like to see the ninja on the 100^th floor. If the others would follow me for the rest of the tour.”

Nya moved towards the elevator, glancing back over her shoulder once inside to see if Zane was following. “Hey, Zane, you with us?” Cole called out, knocking their Nindroid comrade out of his thoughts.

As soon as Zane had entered, Nya hit the button for Borg’s office. As the elevator took off, the computer spoke.

“Black Ninja, Blue Ninja, Red Ninja, White Ninja, Golden Ninja not identified, wait for action.” She frowned, but said nothing about it, looking out over the city before them. Minutes passed before the elevator came to a stop with a ding, the doors opening as they laid eyes on Borg’s office.

“I would’ve guessed ninja to sneak in a window, no use the elevator.” The first time she had seen Borg was Dr. Julien’s funeral, though she hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting him in person, she had witnessed Lloyd and Garmadon talking to him.

“Ah! oh my gosh.” Jay shook with excitement as they walked forward. “Are you?” He began to ask, and it became evident to her that Jay had not met Borg at Dr. Julien funeral.

“Cyrus Borg?” Borg answered. “Yes. Unfortunately, when my parents gave me a name like that, my future in technology was predetermined.” Nya tilted her head, noting Borg’s new robotic legs, her gaze did not go unnoticed by Borg. “Ah, yes, these.” He began, moving about the room. “I’ve been disabled all my life, but it’s nothing my mind couldn’t fix.” He turned his gaze towards Zane. “Once more, I give my deepest condolences, Zane. Your father would’ve fit right in here.”

The Nindroid nodded. “Thank you, Mr Borg, but loss is inevitable.” Nya noted that the words were not new, with Zane having spoken some of them during his father’s funeral.

Borg shook his head. “Today maybe, but not tomorrow.” He smiled proudly. “Technology, making the impossible possible. The only limit to our potential is that which we don’t dream.”

Nya hummed before taking a look outside the building, a nagging feeling coming on as he observed the way the buildings were arranged around them. “Isn’t this the same place The Overlord was defeated?” She questioned, glancing at Borg, a close inspection noted that he seemed on edge. “I can’t imagine building a corporate headquarters here was a good idea?”

Borg nodded, but moved about rapidly. “Ah, what better way to send a message to evil that we won’t cower to anyone.” He let his gaze sweep over the group. “I see, or better yet, I don’t see the Golden Ninja.” Nya focused her gaze, something was off about this whole meeting, there was something going on in the background they hadn’t been informed off.

“Oh, his hands are a bit full, but Nya can tell him to stop by when we see him.” Cole spoke up, turning his attention away from Borg’s workbench.

Borg was quick to shake his head. “No, no, no. I’m glad it’s just you four.” Nya moved, taking a look over everything. “I wanted to give you a gift.” She turned her head, watching Borg move towards something covered by a green cloth.

“A gift? Won’t say no to that.” The Master of Earth noted, making his way over, the others following him from behind. “It wouldn’t happen to be cake, would it?”

Borg removes the cloth, revealing a statue of himself. Nya hums as she takes a look over the statue. “The future is what we make it.”

Cole laughed. “So no cake.”

Nya frowned, tilting her head. “A statue of yourself?”

Ignoring Jay’s outburst about how cool it was, she noted Borg lean towards her. “Please, protect them with your life, all of Ninjago depends on it.” He whispered into her ear, causing her to glance at him in confusion. “You were right, I should never have built here.” He seemed panicked, worried about something. “You must go, they’re listening.”

She processed his words, the location, the sudden fear and need for them to take this statue, something big was coming, now her adoptive father’s words from months earlier came to mind. A calm before the storm, she feared that storm was now right atop them.

“I’m sorry to cut this short, but there’s things to invent. I hope you can show yourselves out.”

Nya nodded, moving to help the others carry the statue onto the elevator. As they stepped onto the elevator, she sighed. “Guys, something weird is up with Borg.”

Jay gave her a strange look. “They’re called artificial limbs, Nya, don’t need to be so rude.”

Nya gave him a look, one she only reserved for him when he was did something dump. “He was acting suspicious, Sparky. Almost like he was terrified of something.” She glanced at the statue. “He said we had to protect ‘them’ with our lives.”

Cole tilted his head. “Them? Who’s them?”

Nya shrugged her shoulders, turning her head to look back when the door closed. “I don’t know, but…” She paused, the elevator jolting her as it took off back down, causing her to lose her grip on the statue and send it to the ground. As they stare at the broken statue, Jay bemoans its loss.

“It’s hollow.” Zane notes, looking over it. “And there appears to be something inside.”

Cole picks up neatly folded clothing wrapped in plastic. “Why would he give us new ninja outfits?” He glanced at the others. “I hate to admit it, but I think Nya might be onto something?”

Nya’s attention was caught but the strange devices packed alongside the outfits. “What exactly are these?” She pulled them out, frowned as she studied them.

“Techno Blades located, will the assailants please stand down and drop the Techno Blades?”

Jay gasped, glancing up at the ceiling. “First you call us pedestrians and now we’re assailants?”

Turning her gaze away from the devices, Nya notes Zane trying each button on the elevator. “Nothing works, perhaps a malfunction?” Nya shook her head, looking back at the devices in hand as a thought comes to mind.

“Guys, I think these must be the Techno Blades, the things Borg said we had to protect with our lives.” Her realisation comes amongst others, things slowly falling into place. “Oh no, we have to protect these with our lives.” She made no mention of the much more dangerous realisation to the others, focused instead on their current situation.

“Have it your way. Goodbye.”

She screamed as they fell, the elevator dropping rapidly as they came closer and closer to the ground. “Let the elevator have the Techno Blades, Nya. I think it’s made its point.” Nya shook her head, listening to Cole utter something about getting off the elevator. She pushes from the ceiling, leaping to the ground before glancing up.

“Going up?” She questions, leaping forward and smashing through the emergency hatch of the lift, watching the others leap out after her. As they glance around, she frowns, focused on their escape plan.

“There!” Zane notes, pointing towards an oncoming elevator. Without any hesitation, the four leap across, landing on the next elevator, smashing through the emergency hatch.

“Looks like we just quit our day jobs.” Cole jokes, handing out the outfits as Nya passes the Techno Blades around.

Jay widens his eyes. “Oh my gosh! Our students.”

Fire rages around Nya as she spins up her spinjitzu and changes outfit, adopting the new gi. “We just have to trust Wu and Dareth will keep them safe.” She finishes spinning around, noting the new red gi with blue water and fire patterns on it and lifts the half mask over her face.

Borg stumbles back in terror as a pair of twisted, cruel eyes appears on the screens around him. “You fool! You tried to give them the only thing that could defeat me and thought we wouldn’t notice?” The Overlord’s voice was thick with anger, mixed with a static like effect from the speakers. “I’d get rid of you if we still didn’t need you.” Borg glanced around with terror, looking for whoever else was part of The Overlord’s we. “Don’t think to ever betray me again.”

Borg nodded. “Of course not, I promise. I promise.”

The Overlord growled with anger, moving from screen to screen until he came to reside upon the largest. “A promise isn’t good enough.”

From the shadows, two figures emerge, Borg widened his eyes as his legs didn’t move, remaining still as Kai made his approach, crystalised hand reaching forward. “Don’t be afraid Mr Borg, your pain will only be temporary, but the mark will be a permanent reminder fo your betrayal.” He grasped Borg by the face, increasing the heat of the hand as Borg screamed his throat dry.

Nya leapt from the elevator with the others, with their new outfits, they looked like a solid unit once more. “Heh, I gotta say it, I love the new threads.” Their admiration of the new outfits is interrupted by the appearance of three robots, each of them focused on them.

Nya held the Techno Blade in hand, eyes narrowed as she grinned. “Trying to intimidate me, well two can play at that.” She kicks off the ground, flying in the air towards them, smashing the blade into the lead robot only to recoil in horror as it does nothing. “What’s with these things?” She questioned, retreating to stand by the others. “How do we turn them on?”

Zane moved his, holding it ready to strike. “Let me try.” He hits the wall, watching with confusion as it doesn’t leave a scratch. “It’s not even sharp, why call it a blade?”

The four watch as an energy blast slams the window behind, their eyes wide as it cracks. “Oh snap.” Jay speaks, the window breaking and the sudden gust of air sucking them outside.

Using his wits, Cole grabs the firehouse moves so that he’s fall between them all. “Grab on.” They do so, holding on tightly as he begins to aim their descent towards a window. “Ready to crash the party guys?” The four of them slam into the window, each groaning as they slide down the window and begin their fall once more.

Their fall is broken by a work platform, the four of them dusting themselves off before the robotic window cleaner turns to face them. Without hesitation, Cole kicks the robot over the edge and they begin to lower themselves down. As they do so, Nya begins to explain everything they seemed off and all the evidence she had regarding her realisation.

“Do you really think it’s The Overlord?” Jay questioned, looking at Nya, the Mistress of Fire and Water nodded.

Cole shook his head, disbelief swelling within his eyes. “But how? We all saw Lloyd defeat him.” The idea that The Overlord could survive Lloyd’s massive surge of light seemed impossible.

Their Nindroid friend hummed. “Defeat, yes. But can he be destroyed?”

A set of lights fall upon them, the group turning and looking upon a hover-copter. “I don’t about The Overlord, but we can.” Without hesitation, Zane stepped forward, eyes narrowed with determination.

“Cole, Throw me.”

Nya and Jya turned, their eyes snapping to Zane at his request. “Excuse me?” It seemed their shock at the Master of Ice’s request was not just shared by them.

“Throw me.”

Cole moves, picking up Zane and tossing him towards the hover-copter, the Nindroid pulled out his Techno Blade as he grasped the vehicle, blue energy forming at the tip of the weapon as he plunged it into the vehicle.

Nya blinked as the hover-copter altered its appearance to now match Zane’s aesthetic choices. “What just happened?” Cole questioned, looking to Jay and Nya for answers.

“The Techno Blade must’ve hacked the hover-copter’s system. Zane controls it.” Jay explained, the three focusing on their next plan of action.

“Right, let’s take this platform and find our students, we need to get them and the people to safety.” Nya moved, helping tie the platform to Zane’s new vehicle. Soaring down towards the ground, they quickly reach their students.

Leaping from the vehicle, she quickly leaps into the factory, her gaze drawn to Dareth. “Quickly, this way!” She cries out, helping herd their students out the window.

As Dareth gets past her with Wu, she turns to leave, only to feel someone grab her leg. Turning her head, she sees P.I.X.A.L, the green eyes she once had now crimson red. “This will be the end of your tour.” She unleashed a stream of water towards the Nindroid, sending her tumbling back.

With her leg free, she leaps up to Zane. “Go, she’s one of them.”

The journey to the bus was short and soon they had gathered everyone on board. Cole steps forward, his gaze focused on Dareth. “Get to the academy as fast as you can, we need the Golden Ninja.”

Dareth nods. “What about you guys?”

Nya focuses her attention on the streets around them, the many robots falling prey to The Overlord’s influence. “We must protect the people.” Wu replies, holding his staff tightly.

As Dareth moves to leave, a robot grabs the bus, causing the students to scream. Cole, without hesitation, leaps onto the bus. “I’m on it.” Leaping form the bus, he lands atop the robot and pulls out several power cords. “No one calls me a pedestrian.”

Nya glances at the Techno Blades as Dareth drives the bus away. “Alright, so these Techno Blades hack into their systems, giving us full control.”

Cole nods, holding his Techno Blade tightly. “So what do you say we do a little hack attack?”

They glance at Wu, their teach nodding in agreement. “Zane, Nya, you take to the skies. Cole, Jay, I want you on the ground. I’ll do what I can for the people.”

As they readied themselves to go, Cole cheered. “Anyone else feeling all tingly inside?” Nya shakes her head, instead holding on tightly as Zane lifts off, her gaze focused on the hover-copter they rapidly approached.

As she readies herself to leap, she paused and looks around, her gaze falling upon a jet. “Oh no, I want that.” Leaping up into the air, she uses her Techno Blade to hook onto the jet, hacking into its systems and pulling it under her control.

As she climbs into the cockpit, she glances over the controls, quickly figuring out what does what. As she finalises what each button does, a holographic image of Borg appears. “So you’ve figured out how the Techno Blades word.”

“Huh?”

“You must know, they are far, far more important than you think.” Nya frowns, glancing at hers briefly. “This is a prerecorded message, but I can tell you that a few weeks ago, we discovered a virus laying dormant in our system. The Overlord.” Nya sighed, she hated it when she was right sometimes. “You have to get the Techno Blades out of the city because once he knows you have them, he’ll never let you leave.”

Nya moves her jet, swiftly evading several attacks from enemy forces. “Please wrap it fast.”

“I’ve also given you new outfits to help block the facial recognition software. Had I known this would happen, I would never have built where The Overlord was defeated. Goodbye, ninja, and good luck”

Nya hums, evading another attack. “Can you guys handle that?” She questions, adjusting her controls.

“On it!”

She smiles, soaring in and around the buildings, eyes focused on the paths around her eye ash evades enemy jets and hover-copters. “We have to get the Techno Blades out of the city.”

“But what about Master Wu? We can’t leave without him.” Nya huffs, having forgotten all about her adoptive uncle.

She sees him surrounded by robots. “There, I’ll pick him up and meet you guys at the intersection Wilfert and Fleming.” Pushing the jet, she zooms along the streets, flying over the robots. “I can’t find a place to land.” She moves in to make another pass, watching Wu leap into the air on a blast of water. With a smirk, she maneuvers the jet, catching him atop it and moves to join the others.

As she arrives, she joins in the attack, keeping the enemy at bay, yet the robots continue to prove problematic as they keep growing in number. “There’s too many, we’ll never get out.” Cole calls over the comms. Nya hums, focused as she tries to reach out with her powers and feel the water in the pipes around them.

A burst of golden energy covers the area, shutting the mechs down as Lloyd touched down. “Robots versus ninja? Dare I ask?” He questions, looking at the others.

Nya rolls her eyes, leaping down to join him alongside the others. “All right.” Cole remarks, crossing his arms as he stands beside Lloyd.

Nya taps him on the shoulders, smiling as he gives him a brief hug. “You missed a lot of action.”

“So you couldn’t help yourself.” Nya turns at the familiar sound of the sickly voice, her gaze drawn towards the many screens around the city. “The Golden Ninja, we meet again.”

Lloyd stepped forward, eyes hardened as he clenches his fists. “Overlord, I defeated you once, I’ll defeat you again.”

The Overlord laughed, an ominous presence covering the air as the robots around them suddenly began to advance again. “Oh, I don’t want to fight, I just want your power!” Nya notes the golden mist Lloyd had sent out had faded, drawn in by the robots.

Without hesitation, Lloyd goes to use his power. Wu, seeing this, connects the dots and stops him. “No, Lloyd, your power is only making them stronger.”

Lloyd hums, frowning in the process. “But how do we fight.”

Nya steps forward, resting a hand on his shoulder. “We don’t we need to get you and the Techno Blades out of the city.”

“I don’t think he’ll let us leave.” Cole notes, watching the robots draw closer.

Wu nods, the Master of Creation thinking as he holds his staff tightly. “I have an idea, but I don’t have much time to explain, now listen close.”

Nya huddles close, listening as Wu explains his plan to deceive The Overlord. Knowing her role, she readies herself, leaping into her jet and taking off. “I hope this works.”

“At 4.2 percent chances of success, I’d say our hope is slim.”

“That’s why it’s called hope, Zane.”

Nya ignores them, putting her full attention on her part of the plan, flying as close as she can to the streets, opening the cockpit window and allowing the Techno Blades to fall into her lap. With the weapon secured, she booked it out of the city, catching up with the others.

“We have to go back for him.” Lloyd speaks up after several minutes of silence.

“I want to go back for him too, and we will, but only when you are safe.” Nya replied.

“He wants these weapons, and for some reason, he also wants you. Remember, this was Master Wu’s plans, they can’t break him.” Cole chimes in from he sat attached to Jay’s vehicle.

“Yesterday is gone, tomorrow has yet to come. We need to worry about today.”

“You said it, Zane.”

“We will come back to New Ninjago City and when we do, we’ll be ready.”

Kai narrowed his eyes as he replayed the footage over and over, watching the way Wu let the Techno Blades slip into the cockpit of his sisters jet. It was a clever little trick, a deceptive move hadn’t thought his former comrades were capable off, yet it seemed even they had the capacity to surprise him.

“They think themselves clever.” He noted, focused on one particular part of the footage. “But no matter where they hide, we will find them.”

Chapter Text

P.I.X.A.L focused her gaze, fingers taping away at the control panel before her. Red eyes narrowed, turning her head. “Initialising power transference.” She began, watching a coffin rise from the floor. “Extracting Golden Power.” The coffin lid split in two, sliding down either side of it. “Standby for physical somatic download.”

Energy hummed as a beam struck the coffin, Golden Power flowing into the technological device, within, two eyes began to shine, purple lit up with a deathly glow. “Yes, yes!” The Overlord snarled, waiting with anticipation for an escape that never came.

“It’s not enough!” He snarled, a small orb of energy floating from the coffin into the shadows. “I need more of the boy’s power if I’m ever to be freed of this digital prison.” Stepping from the shadows, a spider like creature emerged, Cyrus Borg sat atop it unresponsive, a nasty burn scar shaped like a hand covering a portion of his face near his right eye.

With aggressive movements, he moved forward. “I’m fed up with pathetic mortal bodies.” He leaned forward, making himself tower over P.I.X.A.L. “I want my own back, find me more power! Find me the Golden Ninja.”

P.I.X.A.L frowned, taking a step back. “By my computation, your primary duty should be finding the Techno Blades. They are the only things that can…”

The Overlord snarled, Bringing one of his appendages down upon the Nindroid, leaving a clear cut through her face. “Those ninja don’t even know what they already possess.” He turned, moving about with a terror inducing stride. “I want the Golden one.”

“Nindroids have no current visual on him.”

The dark entity groaned, for as advanced and current his new army was, they lacked the one quality the Stone Army had, that quality of being made from his power, without it, they were mere machines. Though he was sure to make sure they had souls tied to his own, a foresight should he ever need their services once he became the Golden Master. “They just don’t know where to look.”

He moved, a light shining brightly upon Wu. The Master of Creation struggled in his bonds, but his gaze remained focused. “I’ll never tell you where they’re hiding.”

“You don’t need to.” P.I.X.A.L turned her gaze to the shadows where two figures emerged, Kai and Lasha, the latter trailing behind the former. Kai’s left hand, once formed of his corrupted powers, was now gone, replaced by a new mechanical one. “I already know where they have retreated to.”

Kai stopped, gaze hard as he looked upon his former master, in it, P.I.X.A.L saw a shred of anger, a hatred that burned brightly. “Your brothers monastery.”

Nya sighed, finishing up the last touches on her new vehicle. Branches, leaves and foliage covering the bright red left something to be desired, but what she had was sufficient enough to hide from the Nindroids. “This is a perfect place to lay low. No robots, not cameras, no problems.” Lloyd remarked from where he stood with the others.

Turning, the Mistress of Fire and Water walked towards him, making sure to grab Lloyd’s green Gi Borg had given them. “Still.” She began, letting her gaze fall upon her little brother. “If any aerial drones pass overhead, you better wear this.” She tossed the gi towards Lloyd. “It’ll scramble their signal so it’ll take longer for them to identify you.”

The Golden Ninja laughs, glancing over his outfit, swinging behind a tree to quickly change. When he emerges, he stretches. “Yeah, this is sweet.”

“Lloyd, Nya?”

The two turn, their gaze falling on Misako. “Mum?” Lloyd questioned, walking towards her, Nya following from behind.

Misako pulled the two into a warm embrace, pulling away as she glanced at the other ninja. “What are you all doing here?” Lloyd and Nya’s presence, she understood, the others however, she hadn’t expected to see them come by.

“The Overlord’s back and New Ninjago City has fallen under his control. He has Uncle Wu.” Lloyd explained, glancing at Nya. The Mistress of Fire and Water nodded, focused on the monastery towering above the trees in the distance.

“Wu’s tough.” Misako assured them, letting her gaze soften. “There’s a reason he’s lived as long as he has.”

The Golden Ninja nodded, frowning when he noticed Garmadon’s absence. “Where’s Dad?”

“Yeah, where’s Lord Garmadon?” Cole repeated.

Nya turned, her gaze narrowed. “He doesn’t go by Lord anymore.” Cole, Jay and Zane gave each other a look, no doubt a silent conversation.

“My daughter is right. He’s Master Garmadon now.” Misako turned, glancing over the group, noting the weapon on their backs. “And he won’t be back until the lesson this afternoon.”

Cole frowned, glancing at Zane and Jay at Misako’s words. “I’m sorry, daughter?” He questioned, noting that only Zane held the same confused look.

“They adopted me a month ago.” Nya replied, resting a hand on her hip, as if to question how they’d been so oblivious to that news when it spread like wildfire, though that was a matter for another time.

Zane seemed to agree with her unsaid notion. “If Garmadon is now Master Garmadon, then I am glad he’s on our side, with Master Wu gone, we could use his guidance.” Each of the ninja nodded in agreement with his statement.

Misako smiled. “Come in, but your weapons are not allowed. Ever since Lloyd saved his father, Garmadon has sworn an oath to never fight unless it the matter is of life and death. An oath he takes very seriously.”

Nya frowned but pulled out her Techno Blade and turned to look at the others. “But we were supposed to protect these with our lives.” Jay noted, having followed Nya’s actions, holding his own Techno Blade.

“And never let them out of our sight.” Cole agreed, frowning as he studied his blade.

Zane sighed, glancing at each of the ninja. “You guys go on ahead, I will stay back and watch over them.” One by one, they gave him the Techno Blades.

As Nya handed hers over, she let out a sigh. “Don’t hesitate to come running with them if trouble occurs. Garmadon may be strict about his no weapons policy, but he isn’t without reason.” She turned, moving to follow the others.

That night, they sat upon a training mat, teen lingering nearby, watching the heroes of Ninjago closely, whispering to one another at their presence. Nya recognised at least two of them as have hailed from Ignacia, those two giving her a nod in recognition.

Turning their heads, they watched a door open and Garmadon enter. “Ah, my son and daughter.” He spoke cheerfully when he noted their presence, a smile gracing his lips. “So glad you could join us.”

Lloyd and Nya exchanged a look, the Golden Ninja decided to be a little cheeky. “Hey, it’s been a while father.” Nya shook her head, they’d had sat together for dinner last night. To her right, she heard Jay whisper something Cole, only for her adoptive father to whack him over the head with his staff.

“Silence, close your mouth and open your ears.” Garmadon spoke, walking back and forth before his students. “Tonight’s lesson is the Art of the Silent Fist. To fight without fighting.” He turned, gaze sweeping over them. “May I have a volunteer?”

Nya nudged Lloyd in the side, nodding her head in Garmadon’s direction. Lloyd sighed, getting to his feet. “How about me.”

Garmadon nodded, holding his staff as he watched his son take up his position on the mat. “Attack me, but please. No powers, I happen to quite like my monastery.”

Nya chuckled, shifting closer to Jay. “I also happen to quite like it too, not as isolated as Ignacia.” She whispered, getting a small chuckle from her boyfriend.

Lloyd surged forward, but Garmadon steps to the side, watching his son slam into a table. “You see, the key is balance, let you opponent fight himself.” He sidesteps several more of Lloyd’s attacks, ducking under some while leaning away from others. “Let the enemy tire himself.”

Their demonstration continued for another minutes before Garmadon’s final evasion sent Lloyd stumbling into one of the support pillars. “Pupils, I give you the most powerful ninja in all the land, the Golden Ninja.” The cheeky smile on his lips was certainly his means of revenge on Lloyd’s pranks from the last year.

Nya narrows her gaze, grabbing her little brother by the arm and dragging him down when she notes his anger starts getting the better of him. “Easy son, it’s only a lesson.” Garmadon walked over, placing a hand on Lloyd’s shoulder, Nya maintains her hold on Lloyd.

The Golden Ninja shakes his head. “Sorry, I don’t know what got into me.”

Garmadon nods in understanding. “You let the anger take over. I know that feeling well.” He turns away from Lloyd his gaze focused on his pupils. “Now, let’s divide into groups.”

Nya is quick to pair up with Jay, swiftly making use of Garmadon’s technique to land him on the floor. Glancing back, she notes Garmadon’s approving smile. “Perfect.”

Zane remains silent, resting in meditation when he feels something is off, opening his eyes, he gasps as he notes the Techno Blades are gone. Getting to his feet, he is swift to identify the thieve. His pursuit of the figure is short, pinning down them down and turning them around when he notes who they are. “What? P.I.X.A.L?” He steps back in shock. “What are you doing?”

P.I.X.A.L is quick to strike out at him. “Discontinuing an old droid.” He attack is slow, feeble at best, Zane notes as he evades her attacks.

“You may call me old, but not slow.” He lets his training take over, pinning her to a nearby tree and using a rope to bound her. He winces as she screams, but pulls her along as he gathers up the Techno Blades. Once the blades were gathered, he makes his way up to the monastery, greeting the others as he approaches the door.

 It’s P.I.X.A.L, but how did she find us?” Cole questions, coming to a stop.

Nya is quick to turn, her gaze focused on the others, a revelation occurring to her. “Our mysterious stalked, they must be working with The Overlord.” Jay frowned in response, crossing his arms as he glanced at Cole.

The Master of Earth glanced at P.I.X.A.L. “She must have an idea as to who our stalker is, so I say we take her apart to find out.”

Zane is quick to step forward, getting between Cole and P.I.X.A.L. “She may hold many answers, but perhaps there is an easier way.” He pulls out his Techno Blade, activating it and walking towards the female Nindroid.

Garmadon stepped forward to protest, but Jay intervened. “Relax, isn’t a weapon, only hacks into things.”  The Master of Lightning explained, watching Zane free P.I.X.A.L from The Overlord’s influence.

Gasping, P.I.X.A.L glances around her unfamiliar surroundings. “Where am I?” She glances down at the ropes holding her. “Why am I tied up?”

The Master of Ice moves swiftly, undoing her bonds. “You were under the control of The Overlord.” He glances at the others, then back at her. “How did you find us?”

P.I.X.A.L frowns. “The Overlord is not working along, there are two others, a Serpentine and a samurai, the samurai knows your hiding spots.” The ninja paused, each of them exchanging looks with one another. “You know this samurai and Serpentine?”

Nya nodded. “Yes, the samurai is my brother, Kai. He was one of us once.” She paused, glancing at Garmadon. “The Serpentine is Lasha, his shadow.”

Jay’s gaze is quick to light up. “What if Kai was our stalker?” From beside him, Cole nods in agreement.

“It makes sense, Kai holds a grudge against us, but working for The Overlord, I though his whole goal was to be Ninjago’s only protector as the Green Ninja?” The Master of Earth glanced at the others, puzzled. It was here, Nya realised, she’d forgotten to explain Kai’s sudden change in his pursuit of the title of the Green Ninja.

Nya bit her lip. “No, Kai doesn’t seek the title of the Green Ninja anymore, he now seeks to be the Green Ninja’s equal, but that doesn’t explain why he’s working with The Overlord.”

Lloyd glanced at his father, the Master of Destruction sighed. “In my brief time working with him, Kai made it clear he sough to oppose you whenever he got the opportunity.” Garmadon’s words carried a certain weight to them, one that gave the ninja a dreaded sense that Kai would be a persistent foe for the years to come.

“That means Kai’s working with The Overlord simple because he opposes us.” Cole concluded, glancing back at P.I.X.A.L, the female Nindroid frowning.

“The Overlord has also mined Master Wu’s memory, any hiding spots Kai did not know about, The Overlord knows about.” Her words caused Garmadon to step forward.

“My brother, is he… is he okay?”

P.I.X.A.L nodded. “Yes, but The Overlord wants your son.” She let her words settle, her gaze lingering over the empty space around the monastery. “His Golden Power is the only way he can escape the digital realm and become real.”

Nya frowned, glancing at Lloyd with worry, the news was concerning for a number of reasons, least of which was that The Overlord sought to regain physical form so soon after his defeat. She glanced at the Techno Blades, picking up hers. “Why did Borg give us the Techno Blades to protect? What’s so important about them?”

The female Nindroid turned, his green gaze focused on her. “Because together, they can reboot the system, wipe the master computer clean and destroy The Overlord virus for good.” Nya hummed in response, glancing at the others as they all reacted in different ways. P.I.X.A.L, paused, gasping as she glanced around.

The Mistress of Fire and Water narrowed her gaze, holding her Techno Blade tightly. “What is it?”

“I didn’t come alone.” The female Nindroid’s gaze swept the area, looking for something that wasn’t there.

“Uh…” Jay began, glancing around at nothing. “Who else is with you?”

“Nindroids.” Was her response.

They blinked, all looking for these Nindroids P.I.X.A.L had spoken off, but found nothing. Jay’s gaze darted from place to place. “Where are they? I don’t see any of them.”

As if responding to his question, Nindroids appeared from thin air, fields of energy shimmering away to reveal their terror. P.I.X.A.L turned, counting each Nindroid. “Five verses eighteen, probability of survival too low to quantify.”

The Nindroids moved fast. Nya was quick to leap back, retreating towards a small stream of water. With hardened eyes, she held a hand out to the water, bending the stream to her command and bringing it to bear against her foes. The water knocked them off their balance, allowing her time to send them flying down with her spinjitzu.

“These Nindroids are so much fast…” Jay began, only to be cut off as one of them landed a blow to his face. Nya was swift, sliding under the Nindroid where she pushed off the ground, kicking the robot in the jaw, the force knocking them into the air. An opportunity Jay exploited when he delivered a kick to the Nindroids chest.

As the two stood back to the back, they glanced over the field, Cole and Garmadon had both taken out a group fo Nindroids while Lloyd had leapt in to save Zane, though not without Cole screaming at him not to use his powers. As they regathered, Nya took a look around the area, noting more Nindroids appearing from thin air as their cloaking devices shut down. “We need to get out of here.” She stated, leading the charge into the Monastery. As they raced about the place, Nya lead them to the water wheel, her gaze focused on the small army slowly converging atop of them.

“We’ve got you now.” Their voices were robotic, lacking any form emotion. It was both creepy and terrifying.

“Anyone want to clear a path?” Jay asked, gaze focused as he bounced on his feet, watching the Nindroids slowly cover more and more ground.

Cole nodded, glancing at the water wheel. “Yeah, I’ve got an idea.” Piling into the water wheel, Nya summoned a stream of water, using it to cut the wheel free from its place. She held tightly onto Jay, letting the wheel spin them around and around. Once she was sure the wheel had stopped, she poked her head out, swiftly getting to her jet and glancing at the others. “Set them to autopilot and get back in the wheel, once their gone, we’ll be able to plan form there.”

With a nod, Nya stepped back, watching her jet soar into the sky, retreating back to the water wheel, she watched as the Nindroids all raced to pursue their driverless vehicles. Once it was safe, they emerged from the wheel, gathering their bearings and grouping together. “Won’t be long until they figure out we used autopilot. We should get a move on.”

Nya nodded in agreement. “I’m coming with you.” Garmadon came to a stop beside her, holding his staff tightly. “If The Overlord wants my son, I’m not letting him out of my sight.” Nya hummed, glancing back Lloyd, the Golden Ninja deep in thought.

“Wait, if he wants me and the Techno Blades are the only things that can stop him, shouldn’t we split up, just in case?”

The Mistress of Fire and Water nodded in agreement, glancing at Zane and the others. “Good thinking. Zane’s falcon knows the secret location of my Samurai X cave. You and Garmadon go and take what you need to get as far away from us as possible.”

Jay deflated slightly. “Secret cave? I thought we knew everything about each other.”

Nya rolled her eyes, placing a hand on her hip. “Well, a girl’s gotta have her secrets.”

Zane frowned, glancing at Nya. “If The Overlord has mined Wu’s mind and Kai was stalking us, wouldn’t that mean they know the location of your cave?”

With a smirk, Nya shook her head. “Wu doesn’t know of its location and I haven’t been there since before the Fire Temple incident with the Fang Blade.” The Master of Ice nodded, his gaze turning towards the others.

Lloyd crossed his arms, shifting on his feet anxiously. “What are you guys going to do? Those Nindroids aren’t going to let you step one foot into the city, let alone Kai or Lasha.”

The Master of Lightning nodded in agreement, looking towards his girlfriend. “Yeah, Nya, what are we going to do?”

Nya smiled. “We’re going to shut down the power.”

Kai snarled, slamming his metal fist into the table, gaze focused on the screen General Cryptor currently occupied. “Foolish machine, you committed all your resources to pursuing their vehicles and left none at the monastery?” His eyes narrowed dangerously as Cryptor seemed to shy away with fear.

“They tricked us, Supreme Commander.” Cryptor attempted to defend his actions, but Kai wasn’t fooled.

“Your troops failed, you failed. Consider yourself lucky I’m not present, otherwise I’d reduce you a molten pile of slag for this oversight.” He took a deep breath. “Fortunately, our Masters next creation won’t fail. Now take your troops and defend the power station, the Ninja will not be foolish enough to try and enter New Ninjago City while it is well defended.”

Cryptor stilled, gaze shifting as he focused on his new orders. “Are you sure they will strike at the power station?”

Kai growled, eyes narrowed with a dangerous glare. “They will because I know them.” He turned, moving to end the call. “Station troops and set up checkpoints at every entrance into the region, do not let the ninja draw close.” He ended the call, making his way towards his master. “Lasha, has the power grid on the hover hunter been changed out?”

The Venomari scout nodded. “Yes, Fallen One, the hover hunter will operate regardless of if the power station falls or not.”

Kai nodded. “Good, be ready to head out. Should the dragon fail, you will have to track them.” He moved, entering the production line where his master observed his latest creation. “Master, General Cryptor and his troops failed to secure the Golden Ninja and I have redirected their attention to defending the power station.”

The Overlord turned, purple gaze shimmering brightly on the screen of the spider. “Cryptor may be smart, but he is arrogant. I am fortunate to have someone able to keep him in line by my side.” He turned, observing the dragon before them. “Once I have Golden Power, my only weakness will cease to exist and then no one will be able to stop me again, not even those ignorant dragons.”

Nya frowned as she emerged from the magic box, getting to her feet and shaking her head. “We can get you just outside of the Storm Farms, but you’ll have to get to the power substation on your own.” The magician smiled. “Good luck and abracadabra.” With a puff of smoke, he and the clown that had been inside the box with them disappeared, leaving them alone.

“Show off.” Jay mutters, coughing as he waves away the smoke.

Cole turns, his gaze focused on Nya. “So, Nya, can we really destroy The Overlord and his Nindroids by simply flipping a switch?” He inquired, watching the Mistress of Fire and Water shake her head.

“Cripple them, yes, destroy them, no.” She moved, glancing at Jay. “Once we’ve powered down his army, we still need to reboot the central computer with the Techno Blades.” She drew her blade forth, glancing over the golden device. “And don’t forget, since he knows we have them, they aren’t going to let us just waltz in.”

The Master of Lightning frowned, a thought coming to mind. “Wait a minute, if shutting down the power turns off everything connected to it, wouldn’t that mean P.I.X.A.L too?”

Cole quickly turned, a look in his gaze. “Well, if Zane hasn’t figured it out, don’t tell him.” The Master of Earth narrowed his gaze, glancing around. “If we’re going to come across more Nindroids, we need to be on our A game.”

Nya nodded, looking for Zane in the immediate room. “Speaking of which, where is Zane?”

In another compartment, P.I.X.A.L looks over a damaged Zane, carefully repairing several of his damaged wires and systems. The Master of Ice keeps his gaze focused on her. “Thank you for repairing me.” He frowns. “I guess an old Nindroid like me is no match against the newer models.”

P.I.X.A.L narrowed her gaze. “This is just one of my primary functions. Gratitude is not required.” She paused, noting a strange glowing object in his chest. “Fascinating.”

Zane tilted his head. “What is it?”

‘Your power source.” P.I.X.A.L replies. “It’s a technology I am unfamiliar with.” She looked Zane up and down. “Your father built you with spare parts, yet this piece, it’s unique. Perhaps if I take a closer look.” She moves, a finger touching the glowing object, a wave electricity shocking Zane. P.I.X.A.L is quick to back away. I’m sorry I caused you pain. I was curious to understand why you are so different.”

Zane shook his head. “We’re all different.” He admitted. “But I don’t feel so different around you.”

P.I.X.A.L, lacking emotion and understanding, did not get where Zane was head. “I am not different. I am P.I.X.A.L, the Primary Interactive X-ternal Assistance Life-form. And your repairs are complete.”

Lloyd blinks as they approach the skeleton of a large creature, his gaze lingering over the massive thing before noting something on one of the bones. “The Samurai X symbol.” Noting it’s appearance matching that of a button, he pressed it, glancing back when he notes the head lift up and a ramp leading down opens up.

Together, he leads his father down, moving down a tunnel that seems to never end. Minutes pass before they enter a large cavern. “Whoa, how did Nya have time to build all this?” He questioned, glancing around the room, mechs and other vehicles resting about as well as a large computer set up alongside a small workshop. “Maybe I should’ve been a samurai instead.”

Garmadon took the lead, uncovering removing a cover and groaning as he glances over the vehicle. “Why must everything have so many weapons?”

Lloyd walked passed his father. “Says the man who had four arms to possess the Golden Weapons.” He leaps up onto the vehicle and opens the drivers window.

Garmadon quietly laughs to himself. “I deserved that.” He moves, leaping up onto the vehicle after Lloyd. “I swore of fighting, not driving.” He says, getting into the drivers spot, as he glances over the controls, he smiles.

“Where to now?” Lloyd questioned.

Garmadon smiled, pushing down the throttle and speeding out of the cave. “As far away as possible.”

The ninja gather about the Storm Farms, their gaze lingering on the giant chain that reaches into the sky, a sight that brings back memories of a better time. A strike of lighting startles P.I.X.A.L who steps back.

Zane shakes his head, glancing to make sure she’s ok. “Careful, they farm the electricity that’s in the air.” He looks towards the many towers harvesting the raw power just floating in the air. “This is where most of Ninjago gets their power from.”

Cole hums, glancing up at the main station. “Looks like we have a welcoming party.”

Nya tilts her head, adjusting her gi. “The only chance we have of getting in there is to stay out of sight.” She turns her attention to the others. “There’s now ay we can take them all on.”

Her boyfriend nods. “You mean we get to be ninja for a change?”

“I’ll stay back. I’m not built for stealth and cannot assist you.” P.I.X.A.L states from behind them, keep her gaze focused on the substation. Her statement rang true and none of them could argue against it.

Zane nodded, the Master of Ice pulling up his half mask. “Be safe and stay out of trouble, I’ll see you later.”

Without another word, the four ninja silently climbed the substation, coming to a stop out of sight of the Nindroids. From where they were sat, they could listen in to their conversation. “Keep your eyes out for ninja, the Supreme Commander says they are sure to be coming.” Nya frowns, it seemed Kai had already managed to wiggle his way into commander another of The Overlord’s armies. “Look at you, last one off the factory line? Ran out of metal, eh? I will call you Min-Droid.”

Peaking up, she watched as the Nindroids turned and marched after their general. With the opportunity presenting itself, Nya led the charge, the four of them sneaking into the control room. As Cole closed the door behind them, Nya focused her attention on the beam of pulsing energy before them. “That’s the substation’s core. Shut that down and it’s lights out for The Overlord. Now if only we knew which switch.”

The four quickly split up, searching the control panels for a button that would bring about their goal. Jay paused, hitting several buttons before pausing, a tune ringing out quietly. “Hey, I love this song.”

Nya elbowed him. “Turn it off, they can’t know we’re here.”

Jay sighed, hitting the button and continuing his search. “Buzzkill.”

The Mistress of Fire and Water rolled her eyes. “Love you too.”

Their search continued but none could find a button that shut down the power core. “None of these buttons are doing anything, there has to be an easier way.” Cole turned his gaze towards the core and slowly walked towards it. “Maybe we can just hack the system.” He brought out his Techno Blade and made ready to strike. “This can’t be harder than it looks.” He moved, striking the barrier to no effect. “Ok, definitely harder.”

“Button, button, who’s got the button?” Jay questioned, continuing his search of the control panels, voice louder then it should be.

“Be quiet.” Cole hissed, narrowing his gaze as he glanced back at the door with concern.

“I am being quiet, you be quiet.” The Master of Lightning retorted.

Seconds passed before an alarm rang out, Nya turned, her gaze falling upon the cameras. “Nindroids! Our cover is blown.” She turned, readying her Techno Blade. “Seal the doors and find a way to shut it down.”

“P.I.X.A.L!” Zane cries out in alarm, moving towards th door. “Don’t seal the door, I’m going out there.”

Jay’s eyes went wide. “Are you crazy?” He all but screamed. “We barely fixed you the last time you fought them.”

Zane sent the Master of Lightning a look. “You didn’t fix me, she did.” The Master of Ice slips out the door, as he does so, one of the Nindroids manages to slip in.

Jay sighed. “Great, this must be the one they called Min-Droid.” He leaps back as Min-Droid strikes at him. “Someone hack him with a Techno Blade.” He called out, moving away from another attack.

Cole moved, making a move to do so, but is forced back. “I’m trying.” He mutters, noting his precarious position between Min-Droid and the power core. “I gotta hand it to the little runt, he doesn’t know when to quit.”

“Quit?” Mindroid states, firing a laser form his eye. Cole widens his eyes and dives to the side, the laser hitting the cores barrier where a crack forms, a crack Nya notices.

“That’s it, fight without fighting.” She notes, racing towards the door, ignoring Jay’s remark about it not being the time for a lesson. “Remember Garmadon’s lesson?”

Cole nods, getting to his feet. “I see where you’re getting at, let the Nindroids do the work for us, but one won’t be enough, we need more, open the door.”

Nya smirks, grabbing the door and pulling it aside, Nindroids pouring in, each of them firing away at Cole and Jay, the two of them evading each and every laser. Min-Droid grunts, and leaps forward, only for his targets to step to the side, the Nindroid slamming into he power core. “Uh oh.” He mutters as a pulse of energy shoots out, powering down everything across Ninjago.

Nya sighs with relief, the first part was done, now they needed to reboot the system.

Outside the control room, Zane holds P.I.X.A.L in his arms, his gaze focused on her. “This is why I wanted to stay back, so you w… w… would not s… s… see this.” She explained.

Zane frowned. “You knew this would happened?” His inquiry sat on the thin line between a question and accusation.

“Your mission was important. I… I was not. I am to assist, I assisted.”

The Master of Ice shook his head. “You’re using up your reserve. Don’t say anything more until we find you more power.”

P.I.X.A.L shook her head. “You’ve destroyed the only power source in Ninjago.” She stated it like a fact, her gaze focused on Zane. “Power will all be non-existent.” She paused for a brief second. “We are not so d… different, are we? We are compatible?”

Zane nodded as she powered down. “Yes, yes we are.”

Within the darkness of Borg Industries, Kai lit his hand on fire, his gaze glancing around the darkened chambers. As he stands, he growls. “Accursed Nindroids.” He moved, his gaze focused on the path ahead. “The Ninja will be coming here next, which means the main computer must be removed.”

As he enters the computers central chamber, he paused and notes a new figure, with narrowed eyes, he forms a fist with his left hand, feeling the presence of Lasha behind him, he growls a single name. “Pythor.”

Chapter Text

The sun shined brightly upon the mountains, rays of warm light illuminating the stone surface of towering peaks. A gentle breeze blew amongst them, carrying a chill with it. Grunting as he balanced a pile of rocks atop him, Lloyd listened to his father. “We underestimate the importance of balance.” Garmadon stated, placing a rock atop the pile. “When it’s there, we’re at peace. When something is off, everything falls.”

Another rock was placed, the Master of Destruction looking down at his son. “Ninjago is no different. It put too much faith in technology, allowing The Overlord to return, and because of your sister and friends, now the world if without power.” With shake of his head, he continued to place rocks atop the pile. “When one relies on something too much, we become weak, vulnerable, imbalanced.”

Garmadon moved, reaching down to pick up another rock. “In order to find your full potential and unlock your true power, you must find your own balance.”

Lloyd hummed, processing his father’s words. “I’m already the Golden Ninja, how much more power do I need?” He focused on the mountains ahead of him, doing his best to keep the weight of the pile above him balanced.

“You’ve only scratched the surface.” His father replied, the man focusing his attention on Lloyd, his son had a lot to learn before he was on part with his father. “You possess the power of the First Spinjitzu Master, You have the potential to move mountains, create entire islands, breach the barriers between the Realms.”

A grunt from his son issued his acknowledgement, but rather than continue down the current conversation route, took a different direction. “The others destroyed the power substation, essentially destroying The Overlord and his Nindroid Army, why can’t we go back?”

Garmadon sighed, heaving a large rock into his arms. “Essentially?” He questioned, moving towards the pile. “Until The Overlord is fully erased from the system, we must not go back, but forward.” Placing the rock atop the pile, he glanced down at his son.

The Golden Ninja grunted from the sudden weight and attempted to alter his stance to accommodate the new weight. In the process, he lost his balance and collapsed, being buried in the pile of rocks. Garmadon leapt down, shaking his head as Lloyd dug himself out. “If you can’t move mountains, I guess we’ll have to move over mountains.”

Lloyd dusted himself off as he got to his feet, glancing at his father. “Oh yeah?”

Garmadon raised an eyebrow, but simply turned to face the towering peaks before the. “This next one looks particularly steep.”

Borg awoke to the light of a torch, blinking as he adjusted to the small source of light in the darkness of his tower. “Are you all right, Mr. Borg?” He shook his head, gathering his bearings and taking in the three workers before him.

“Yes, yes.” He replied, remaining still on the floor as he tried to make out what had happened, how long he’d been out. He could recall being under The Overlord’s control, the dark entity using his robotic legs as a vessel for his dark power. He could recall being powerless as he and his servants worked to bring about terrible things, yet another thought occurred to him, he remembered the power going out, then being plunged into darkness. “How long have I been out?”

The three workers glanced at one another, almost having a silent debate with one another. “Quite a while sir.” One replied, scratching the back of their neck. “We’ve been without power for a few days.”

Borg nodded, the ninja were quick in their problem solving, but he feared taking out the power would only prolong their ability to wipe the computer systems clean of The Overlord virus. “I need to get to my office.” His request was secretly a plea for help, one hidden behind his inability to move without his legs.

The workers were quick, swiftly finding a wheelchair and hauling him up several flights of stairs, taking numerous breaks as they climbed dozens of floors. As they reached the top, Borg wheeled himself forward, eyes wide as he noted a crucial absence. “Oh no.” He glanced around the room, focused on the darkest parts, but found no trace of Kai or his Serpentine follower.

“Oh no?” One of the workers questioned, glancing at his fellow workers.

Borg rolled forward, noting several crystal shards on the ground. “The hard drive has been taken.” Something else popped to mind and he rolled forward, eyes wide as he noted Wu’s absence. “He was right here. Where did he go? And why would they take the hard drive with The Overlord virus still on it.” He shook his head, glancing at the workers. “Have the ninja returned with the Techno Blades? Please, it’s very important.”

The workers shook their heads. “Uh, no. There’s been no one else inside the building.”

Borg felt terror creep up his spine, glancing out the window over New Ninjago City. “So many questions, so few answers.”

Deep below the tower, within the very bowels of its lowest levels, Pythor slithered forward, hard drive in hand as he led Kai and Lasha through his lair. Kai took note of the tanks of water, and the many pipes connecting them. He did not miss the cables leading out from them or the strange creatures inside, creatures he could understand.

He watched closely as Pythor slid up onto an elevated central platform and aligned the hard drive over a slot. Slipping it in, Pythor glanced up as a screen flashed to life. “Where am I?” The Overlord questioned, gaze focusing on the area around him, noting the Anacondrai closely. “The ninja destroyed all of the power. How have you saved me?”

It was question Kai was starting to ponder, having witness Pythor make use of tech that should be powerless. He glanced a gaze over at a nearby table, Lasha having laid Wu to rest upon it. “Electro-Cobrai.” Pythor replied. “Though extremely rare, they’re extremely useful.”

Kai observed them, listening to their words closely. “Free us! Liberate us from this pain.” He ignored them, instead turning back to his master.

The Overlord narrowed his gaze, observing Pythor closely. “You survived being devoured by my estranged daughter.” He noted, the dark entity was intriguement over the figure. “Who are you? What do you want from me?”

Pythor hummed. “Nothing but a small favour after returning you to power.” He turned, glancing at Wu. “You do still want to become flesh, if I’m not mistaken?”

The Overlord growled, his gaze drawn to Kai. “Yes, I wish to be free of this digital prison, to take on a vessel of my own creation on the mortal plane, one free of mortal blood, but I need the Golden Ninja.”

Pythor nodded, his gaze drawn to Kai, the Master of Fire and Water narrowed his gaze. “Ninjago is large, and tough I spent the better part of a year observing them, they still have many hideouts I am unaware off, my sister in particular has one I have been unable to locate.”

The Anacondrai slithered around, grabbing an Electro-Cobrai. “Right, you were one of them once.” He moved, advancing towards Wu. “Our power is limited, we must be wise with our next move. Ninjago is vast and the Golden Ninja could be anywhere, but rest assured, you’ll have your hands on him in time.”

Kai growled, watching Pythor wake Wu with the water serpent. His former teacher rose, crimson red eye glowing brightly. “Finding the Golden Ninja may be the objective, but so long as the ninja possess the Techno Blades, they still represent a threat.” Kai noted, stepping forward and ripping the Electro-Cobrai from Pythor’s grasp, holding it tightly with his machinal hand. “Removing the Techno Blades from their possession will give us a considerable advantage.”

The dark entity hummed. “I would be a fool to ignore the threat posed by the ninja a second time, but not this time. What do you propose?” The Overlord’s voice was filled with anticipation.

Kai grinned, glancing at Wu and Pythor, then to Lasha before turning his gaze towards his master. “The ninja think they have the upper hand by taking the power grid offline, with the Electro-Cobrai, we can show them that their efforts were futile, spook them, make them scared.” He began to apply pressure to the Electro-Cobrai in his hand, the water serpent callout for him to stop. “Fear will drive them to contact the Golden Ninja, a message we can trace, a beacon leading us right to him. From there, we divide and conquer.”

His gaze hardened, focused on his master, his grip on the water serpent making it impossible for the serpent to breathe. “Pythor and I will secure the Golden Ninja alongside Lasha while Cryptor keeps the ninja occupied. In doing so, we shall crush all opposition to you.” His grip tightened enough that he split the Electro-Cobrai in two, sending blood to the floor as he smirked.

The Overlord chuckled. “Yes, yes. This is why you are Erebos’ successor, such tactical planning, so delightfully befitting my Supreme Commander.”

Pythor narrowed his gaze at the interaction, he despised Kai, but the favour he could gain with The Overlord stayed his hand, if what he was able to glean from this was true, then eliminating Kai would all but assure his own demise.

Nya hummed to herself as she studied Zane’s power supply, the blue energy sparkled brightly, enough that even without the illumination from the caravan, she could see clearly, yet it drew her attention for other reasons, it was unknown, yet evidently quite powerful. She looked up, giving a quick glance at P.I.X.A.L who lay motionless. “You sure you want to do this? Modifying your original design could have… unintentional consequences.”

Zane nodded. “She risked her life for me. It’s the least I could do to get her back.” She noted his determination and the look he sent towards P.I.X.A.L.

With a nod, Nya took half Zane’s power source out, watching him wince slightly before turning to face P.I.X.A.L and slowly inserted it. Leaning back, she watched as P.I.X.A.L woke, her gaze focused on the world around her. “Where am I?” She questioned, blinking as she took in the caravan. “What happened?”

The Mistress of Fire and Water watched the female Nindroid focus her gaze on Zane. “You gave me half your power source. My processor does not compute.” Confusion was evident, her gaze focused on the missing half of Zane’s power source.

The Master of Ice nodded. “You are the only one who knows Borg’s systems. You are vital to the mission.” He stated, then shyly looked away. “And, you are vital to me.”

Nya smiled as P.I.X.A.L grabbed Zane’s hand, causing a small laugh to escape Edna’s lips. “Ooh, robot love. Call me a sucker, but if they have half of what you’re and Jay have…”

P.I.X.A.L glanced up, her gaze focused on Nya. “Nya and Jay?” She frowned, processing the words, then she sighed, the first real signs of emotions present. “The samurai working with The Overlord, Kai, he wanted me to cause a rift in the team.”

Nya narrowed her gaze as Jay entered, the Master of Lightning raising an eyebrow in question. “Cause a rift? How?”

P.I.X.A.L closed her eyes, trying to figure out how best to word her explanation. “He sought to drive division between Jay and Cole by altering Nya’s Perfect Match result, to achieve this, he reprogrammed my processor in order to ensure I would fabricate a false result.”

Nya clenched her fists, eyes narrowed in anger as Cole entered, the Master of Earth glanced around. “It’s so quiet in here. What did I miss? Another signature Jay Walker gut buster?” He was quick to dodge a flying projectile as Nya began to growl.

“I’LL KILL HIM!” Nya screamed, her eyes burning with unhinged rage as she grabbed another object, ready to throw it when Jay leapt forward, pulling Nya into a tight hug.

“What happened?” Cole questioned, glancing at the others for an answer.

Zane merely shook his head. “I shall inform you later, for now, I can only hope Lloyd is faring better than us.”

Lloyd pondered to himself as he walked forward, glancing at the many mountain peaks around him. “Hey, Dad, I was reading through the scroll you told me to yesterday and I’m confused. The scroll said that there can only ever be one master of each Element at a time, but Nya and Kai are both able to command Fire and Water, why?”

Garmadon sighed, noting his sons confused looked when he glanced over his shoulder. “Wu has been puzzling over the very same thing for a while now. He and Misako did much research into the matter but found no answers.” He paused, turning to face Lloyd. “In the end, Wu could only come up with a theory.”

The Golden Ninja nodded, tilting his head in interest. “What is it?”

“Wu believed the two can command Fire and Water because they are the only known people to be born of a union between two Elemental Masters.” Garmadon turned, his gaze focused on the path ahead. “And it seems the bridge ahead is out.”

The younger Garmadon glanced down the path, noting the absence of a bridge. Walking towards the edge, he frowned, then let loose a small laugh. “Hey, who needs bridges when you can manifest a Golden Dragon to…”

Garmadon shook his head, stepping forward and cutting him off. “You rely too much on your Golden Power.” He glanced over the gap, then at the mountain on the other side. “Let this be a lesson.” He turned, focused on his son. “Centre yourself and move the mountain with your mind.”

Lloyd glanced at his father, puzzled by his request. “What? Move that?” His shoulders deflated slightly. “Are you kidding?”

His father merely nodded, letting his hands rest behind his back. “Find your balance and concentrate.”

The Golden Ninja sighed, closing his eyes and began to search, looking for his balance. He could feel the rock around him falling under his command, able to lift and move such large amounts with ease. Opening his eyes, he focused on bringing it down towards the gap between mountains, watching with disappointment when it fell down into the abyss below.

“This is pointless.” He uttered out, taking a step towards the edge. “Especillay when I can do this.” Leaping into the air, he closed his eyes and summons the Golden Dragon, concentrating, he focuses the dragons breath upon the gap, creating a bridge across. As he dispels the dragon, he looks at his father. “I’m not the First Spinjitzu Master, and I never wanted to be. I’m the Golden Ninja.”

Garmadon sighed and crossed the bridge after his son. “I know.” He replied, closing his eyes. “I was once like this too.”

It had taken Jay a few minutes, but he’d managed to calm Nya down enough that they could plot their next move. “Murder Kai later, ok.” The Master of Lightning said, letting go of his girlfriend and glancing at the others. “P.I.X.A.L, why didn’t you try to cause the division with this whole Perfect Match result?”

P.I.X.A.L frowned. “It would appear that being hacked by the Techno Blades was enough to restore an older program from just before you left to see Mr. Borg.” The caravan shook violently, knocking all to the ground.

“What was that?” Jay questioned, glancing around before poking his head in the window.

“The machines haven’t worked since the outage.” Ed piped up, glancing out the window alongside his son. “What’s powering it?”

Jay focused his gaze on the controls, eyes going wide. “Nindroids!”

Nya hummed to herself, getting to her feet. “Better question Jay, what’s powering them?” Several shots flew through the air, ripping into the caravan, causing Zane to pull P.I.X.A.L down while Cole followed his actions with Edna.

“They’re after the Techno Blades.” P.I.X.A.L announced, remaining still as several more shots flew by.

Jay Pushed his father aside, ducking down in the process as the Nindroids continued to fire at them. “Yeah well, they almost hit my mother!” He turned, his gaze falling upon his parents as they attached something to their backs, tilting his head, he attempted to make sense of the strange device.

His mother glanced at him with a warm smile. “Ooh, don’t worry about us, sweetie. We prepare for every type of situation.” The device opened up, bottles propping out as Jay realised what it was.

“You make one for me?” The Master of Lightning questioned, watching his parents draw closer to the opening the Nindroids had created.

“Uh, sorry honey, you hardly ever come to visit.”

Ed nodded in agreement. “Yeah, good luck, kiddo. And watch over the junk while we’re gone, will you?”

Jay sighed, watching them fly off into the distance, watching the trail of bubbles they left behind fall upon who he assumed was the Nindroid general. With a grunt, he glanced at the others. “I personally blame Kai for all this.”

Cole nodded in agreement. “I’m with you on that, but we’re currently in a scrapheap full of Nindroids, so how are we getting out of this?”

Nya focused her gaze on the opening, noting the Nindroid generals current blinded state. “You lot may not have your Elemental Powers, but you do still have Spinjitzu.” She glanced at P.I.X.A.L. “Are you going to be ok?”

P.I.X.A.L nodded, glancing at Zane. “I may not be built to fight, but my protective reflexes should suffice.”

The Mistress of Fire and Water nodded, getting ready to launch herself outside. “Good, cause you’re going to need them.” Without hesitation, the group launched themselves free from the caravan.

Nya was quick to set upon a group of Nindroids, summoning a wave of water to upset their balance before knocking their legs out from under them with her Techno Blade. She glanced upon the machinery, she moved swiftly to cover ground when a cry from Cole and Jay reached her. Coming to a halt, she turned fast. “Zane, Cole and Jay are trapped, I’m going after them.”

Without waiting for a response, she surges forward, getting to the compactor controls and looking over them. “Wonderful.” She mutters as she rips the panel open, finding various wires within. “Why must it always be a choice.”

As she began debating which of the wires to cut, she paused, hands still gripping the wires when she felt the air move behind her. Without warning, she flew through the air, ripping the wires out of the controls in the process. With a thud, she slammed into a tower of junk before sliding to the ground in a daze sate.

Taking several deep breaths, she gathered her wits and shook her head, recollecting where she was and what she needed to do. Glancing at the wires in hand, she gasped, then looked up to see what it was that had hit her.

It was a mistake, she gasped, eyes wide in horror as her heart beat faster.

“What have they done to you?”

Wu stood tall above her, crimson eye staring down upon her with a sinister look. She leaned to the side, falling to the ground as she raced to evade his sudden strike, grunting as she slowly crawled away from her adoptive uncle. Bringing her hand forward, she sent a stream of water into Wu, giving her enough room to get to her feet and hopefully put some distance between them.

Wu was fast to recover and even quicker than she’d recalled, forcing her to go on the defensive as he unleashed a series of relentless strikes upon her. With each blow she parried, the more she realised that her stamina was nothing compared to her teacher.

“Master Wu!” Cole called out and Nya was grateful for the sudden distraction, using it to kick Wu back and regroup with her fellow ninja.

“What happened to him?” Jay questioned, glancing at Nya, his eyes looking her up and down for any sign of injury.

“Kai must’ve used Borg’s tech to turn him evil.” She mentally promised to make sure Kai suffered for this slight against her family later. “We need to somehow free him of my brothers influence.”

The Master of Earth took a hesitant step forward, Techno Blade gripped tightly in hand. “But he’s our teacher, how are we supposed to fight him?”

Nya hummed, summoning an orb of water as she observed their battlefield. “Not at the moment, he isn’t.” She threw the orb of water at Wu, their teacher effortlessly evading it like it was nothing.

“He’s more like Tech Wu.” Jay chimed in, quickly being forced to evade several strikes from their teacher. “Bad Wu, bad!” Wu redirected his next strike towards Cole, sending the Master of Earth to the ground with a thud.

Jay widened his gaze before it hardened into determination and he struck forth, only to be sent hurtling back by their teacher. Nya sighed, standing her ground as Wu turned his attention back on her. Holding her Techno Blade tightly, she readied herself to fight when Wu flew into the air, grunting with irritation as he stuck to the magnet above.

“Sorry, Master Wu.” Zane speaks from behind the controls of a crane, P.I.X.A.L standing behind him.

Nya sighs, shaking her head as Jay and Cole gather beside her. An arrow flies through the air, cutting the rope attaching the magnet to the crane, sending the magnet to the ground below. Wu leaps back, standing besides a hood robed stranger. Nya watches closely, noting the way Wu wanted to continue fighting while the stranger held him at bay.

“Enough, The Overlord will be pleased.”

Nya hummed, watching the two escape with what little Nindroids they could muster. “Seriously, who the heck was that guy?” She turned to look at Jay, shaking her head as she processed what she’d just witnessed.

“Whoever it was, they helped turn Wu against us.” Nya took a step forward, her gaze focused on the damage left behind from their fight.

“And if we want to save him, we’ll need to find out who this stranger is.” Cole added.

P.I.X.A.L approached a pile of junk, her gaze focused on something within it. “Perhaps I could have that answer for you in a few moments.” Picking up the object, she gave it a close eye, scanning it for several seconds as the others gathered around.

“P.I.X.A.L, do you know what it is?” Nya questioned, looking at it.

She shook her head. “The sample is far too small, but given time, I should have an answer.”

Nya sighed, glancing at the others, her gaze focused on the direction the stranger and Wu fled. “Then we should waste no more time and get back to the city.” Zane stated, stepping forward. “I’ll use my falcon vision to warn Lloyd of our findings.”

The Mistress of Fire and Water huffed, crossing her arms as she looked away from the sky. “I thought taking the power out would give us the upper hand, but now they have it and we don’t. I guess the power has only shifted.”

Jay was quick to rest a hand upon his girlfriend’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’ll get Wu back.”

Chapter Text

New Ninjago City was eerily quiet upon their return, the streets void of all life or activity save the wind that blew through about newspapers and rubbish. “What happened?” Jay questioned, glancing around the five slowly advanced down the street.

“No power, that’s what happened.” Cole replied, the Master of Earth glancing over the towers of vehicles ahead of them.

Zane walked ahead, his gaze focused on the empty streets. “Are we too late?” It hadn’t been too long ago they were ambushed at Jay’s home by their mysterious attacker, had they been able to move so quickly that New Ninjago City had fallen to The Overlord.

So caught up in his thoughts, he failed to pay attention to where he was going until something caught on his leg, causing the piles of cars either side of them to collapse to the ground, blocking their path to Borg Tower. Taking a step back, the five watched as the denizens of New Ninjago City climbed atop the makeshift wall, waving makeshift weapons around alongside their torn clothing.

“Outsiders must answer to the Postman!” One of them cried out. Zane exchanged a befuddled look with his fellow ninja before a figure in purple caught his attention.

The Postman had his arms crossed, leaning against a pole. “Return… to… sender!”

The ninja frowned, each of them internally debating on what to do when Borg slowly rolled his way up behind the crowd. “Ah, you finally made it.” The CEO of Borg Industries glanced over the ninja closely. “Don’t mind the savages.” He addressed, finding his way down to them.

“Since power went out, everyone here has grown a bit bored.” A few members of the crowd yawned, watching the interaction with very little interest. “Their imagination knows no bounds.” Borg paused, his gaze falling upon P.I.X.A.L, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her. “P.I.X.A.L, amazing.” He said before frowned. “You’re… powered?”

P.I.X.A.L nodded, walking towards her creator, the Postman yawned, then pushed himself away from the pole. “You need to stay in character, Borg. This is no fun if we’re not all committed.”

Borg looked over his shoulders, giving a look at the Postman. “Oh, I’ll have you committed if you don’t all leave us at once. Now shoo!” He watched, nodding with satisfaction once they’d all made their leave. “We have real problems to address.” He turned to face the ninja. “P.I.X.A.L, what’s powering you?”

P.I.X.A.L looked at Zane, a small smile forming. “Zane gave me half his heart.”

Borg looked at the Master of Ice, an appreciative look in his gaze. “Thank you, Zane. I am greatly indebted.” With his attention back on the ninja, he allowed a sombre expression to form. “Unfortunately, the hard drive was stolen with the digital imprint of The Overlord. You’ll be unable to erase him with your Techno Blades until we find it.”

Jay smiled, though not before he sent a concern look towards Nya and took a step forward. “Aw, don’t worry, we already had a little run in with the red-handed suspect.” He reached into his gi. “Or should I say white-handed?” He spoke, pulling out a small white scale. “He left behind a white scale. Get this, he’s Serpentine.”

The sound of a sewer grate being removed drew their attention to Cole, the Master of Earth having removed the cover for a nearby sewer entrance. “Lucky for us, the last Serpentine were sealed within a tomb right under the city, so it’s about time we pay them a little visit.”

Borg nodded. “Another Serpentine?” He looked at the ninja closely, his gaze focused on Nya. “Approach with caution, I’ve lost a few valuable prototypes to your brother. They may be armed and dangerous.”

Nya nodded. “Any situation where my brother is involved is extremely dangerous.” She turned and moved to enter the sewers.

Jay sighed. “For the record, when those prototypes are made available to the public, could you let me know? They’re just the coolest gadgets.” With his piece he said, he slips down into the sewers after Nya, Cole following not fat behind.

As P.I.X.A.L moves to follow, Borg frowns. “Uh, P.I.X.A.L, where are you going?” He rolled himself over. “Now that my assistant has an unlimited power supply, there’s an infinite amount of good to be done.”

P.I.X.A.L nodded, exchanging a look with Zane, a look the Master of Ice responded to with a nod. “As you wish Mr. Borg.”

Watching them go, Zane climbs down into the sewers.

Kai walks back and forth, his gaze drawn to the screen before them. “We know where the Golden Ninja is, so why are we doing nothing about it?” Kai turned, walking towards Pythor with a clenched fist. “The Nindroid Supreme Commander has detailed his plan, the first phase of it is complete, so why do we not proceed to the second phase?”

The Master of Fire and Water growled. “Yes, Pythor, was the hesitance to complete the next phase? Are you perhaps… not up to the task?”

Pythor hissed, glancing at the tank of Electro-Cobrai. “Patience. Lloyd Garmadon won’t go down without a fight and we’ve already depleted our supply of Electro-Cobrai. Before we take his Golden Power, we need more power of our own.”

Kai crossed his arms, glancing up at his master. “Then find more.” The dark entity growled. “Once I become physical again and rid the scourge that is the ninja, I will walk Ninjago with the power to tule this world, and those beyond it. Revenge shall be mine.”

Pythor nodded, though not completely understanding The Overlords’ full desires or plans. “Don’t worry, I’m one step ahead of you.” He holds up a pamphlet for the aquarium, one which makes Kai raise an eyebrow.

“This is a waste of time, play with your Electro-Cobrai all you want, I am finding another way to power a force of Nindroids.” He turned, walking towards a pile of Nindroid with determination. His dark master looked towards him.

“Elemental Powers can be applied in more ways than one.” Kai turned, his gaze focused on his master. “They are an energy source of tremendous power, one that could power and entire Realm for eternity if the source is right.”

Kai turned, glancing over the pile of Nindroids and let his hands ignite with fire and water. “And how do I achieve that?”

“Touch them, think about their power cores when you do, and your power will fuel them.” Kai nods, reaching out, as he makes contact with them, he feels jolt as Elemental Power flows from him into them, their bodies glowing for a brief few seconds before they begin to rise.

With a smile, he turns to face Pythor. “Fetch your Elecro-cobrai, we need a failsafe for those about to attack the ninja.”

“How anyone got through this jungle is beyond me.” Lloyd groaned out as he pushed aside foliage, following his father deeper into the dense jungles. His gaze focused on the tall trees and thick foliage around him.

Garmadon pushed ahead of him, his own gaze focused on the path forward. “Hiroshi’s Labyrinth, legend says no one has every escaped its deadly maze except for Hiroshi himself.” He stopped, turning to face his son. “But the maze is no match for your powers, making this the perfect place to hide from The Overlord’s clutches.”

Lloyd grumbled to himself, crossing his arms as he eyed his father. “Hide, that’s all I ever seem to do.” He was annoyed, he had all this power at his disposal and was unable to make use of it, unable to exploit it to defeat The Overlord a second time around.

His father noticed his look but paid no heed to it. “Your Golden Power only strengthens his cause.” He replied. “We must not lose sight.”

The Golden Ninja sighed, shoulders sagging. “But I miss my friends, I miss my sister.” Turning around, he let out a deep breath. “What good is being all powerful if I can’t ever have any fun?”

“Golden Power needs to be protected, honoured.” Garmadon explained, his gaze focused on his son. “Evil forces will seek it, try to take it for their own. It seduces.” With sigh, he shook his head. “Even your friends and sister may one day covet it.”

Lloyd turned fast, eyes wide at the thought. “My friends would never hurt me.”

Garmadon ignored his sons denial. “He who holds the power has a tremendous obligation. You must be prepared to handle this journey alone. Even without me one day.”

The Golden Ninja nodded, not once bothering to hide the saddened look he held at the thought of being without his father. “Yeah, I know.”

Garmadon smiled. “Keep your chin up son.” He spoke, hoping to lift the spirits a little. “Legend also states there is a jewel inside the maze, the most beautiful oasis no one has ever seen before. Perhaps we will be the first.”

The pathway to the Tomb of the Stone Army was quiet as they walked along, the eerie green glow from the remnants of the Devourer’s venom helped illuminate the pathway. As Nya lead the group, she couldn’t help but notice the tomb wasn’t as sealed as they last thought. “It appears the seal has been opened.” Zane noted, glancing over the entrance.

The tune of whistling echoed about behind them, causing the four to turn. Skales shirked, eyes wide as he caught sight of them. “Not you again!”

Cole walked forward, eyes narrowed. “Skales, something told me you’d be behind this. Search his bag.” The Master of Earth moved towards the bag, ready to dig in when Nya pulled him back, her eyes narrowed.

“Skales doesn’t have the shade of white that matches the scale we picked up.” The Mistress of Fire and Water turned to face the others. “Skales, have…” Nya didn’t get far when another voice spoke up.

“Daddy? Are you ok?”

Turning, Nya frowned at the sight of a small Serpentine child, Skales slithering past to greet the child, another figure appearing. “Stay inside, Skales Jr.”

Jay blinked in surprise, exchanging looks with Cole and Zane before turning to face the Serpentine King. “You have a son?”

Skales rolled his eyes. “We’ve been busy since you left us.” He replied. “And we prefer to keep it that way.” Nya ran her hand along the white scale, having snuck it away from Jay during the trip to the tomb, watching the interaction between Skales and his family.

“Is this about the Golden Master? Is he going to hurt us?”

The child sounded scared at the mere mention of the name, something about this Golden Master seemed intriguing to her. “That is only a story, son.” Looking to them, Skales narrowed his gaze. “They were just leaving.”

“Golden Master?” Zane questioned, looking at the others. “Is this about Lloyd?”

Nya hummed to herself. The Overlord was determined to get his hands on Lloyd’s powers, the Serpentine were in hiding from someone called the Golden Master, a mysterious Serpentine was aiding The Overlord. If she was putting the pieces together correctly, then the stakes were far worse than they thought.

“Like you, we have our own legends, but I guess in ours, you are the bad guys.”

Nya crossed her arms. “What legend?”

Skales’ wife looked to her husband. “They have a right to know.” Then, pulling Skales Jr closer to, she smirked. “If we’re going to shed a new skin, we must open our home to others.”

Skales sighed, urging his family inside. “Oh, all right. Let’s go, surface dwellers. If you’d like to hear the Curse of The Golden Master, follow me.”

Nya glanced at the others. “Come on, I have a suspicion this Curse of The Golden Master might not have anything to do with Lloyd at all.”

Following Skales, Nya walks up to him. “Skales, have any Fangpyre with white scales been out within the last two weeks?”

The Serpentine King shakes his head in response, busying himself with leading them around their growing city. “No, is this about the missing hard drive?”

Cole shook his head, noting groups of Serpentine learning to be polite, bettering themselves for the future. “No, it’s about The Overlord and a mysterious Serpentine working for him.”

Skales sighs. “The Overlord, glad we weren’t around for that mess.” He turns to face them as they reach a small clearing. “No, we have no desire to meddle in the affairs above. As you can see.” He waves to the many Serpentine ging about their business. “We stick to our own, we only want what’s best for the next generation.”

Glancing around the small fire, Skales glanced in the direction of the Acidicus. “Have a seat, you could learn a thing or two about your beloved Golden Master.”

Nya hummed to herself, taking a seat next to Zane, watching as Acidicus approached them. “Hello, hatchings and camouflaged land dwellers. Do you seek to learn about the Curse of The Golden Master?” Nya elbowed Jay, silencing him when he spoke up, allowing the Venomari general room to talk.

“When The First Spinjitzu Master created Ninja, deep in the ground, he brought about the Serpentine. Since the first dawn, our elders knew of the Curse of The Golden Master, when he who had the powers equal to The First Spinjitzu Master would rise and usher in the last of the setting suns.”

Nya frowned, this Golden Master sounded a lot like The Overlord, which only further fuelled the believed that the two were one and the same.

“With no equal adversary, his power will go unmatched. His destructive rule will change the face of the world, and he will not top until every man, woman and Serpentine are enslaved under his control.”

“Is he referring to Lloyd?” Zane whispered, but Nya shook her head in reply. She wasn’t convinced.

“The Serpentine tried to warn the land dwellers, but they wouldn’t listen. They thought we were the enemy, though we were only trying to prevent the prophecy of the Golden Master’s terrible reign. After The Great Devourer failed to scare the unbelievers below ground and we were banished below ground, never to return, even now that the end is inevitable.”

Nya frowned as Acidicus finished the story and pondered on what they’d learned. Alongside what they already knew, Nya was started to suspect that something far worse was to come. “I can’t believe they think Lloyd could become the Golden Master.” Jay bemoaned.

The Mistress of Fire and Water shook her head. “I don’t think Lloyd will become the Golden Master, I think we’re looking at something worse.” Looking at each of her fellow ninja, she took a deep breath. “Think about it, The Overlord rose with powers equal to The First Spinjitzu Master, and when he rose again, he had no equal adversary and went unchecked until Lloyd became the Golden Ninja.”

Cole frowned, crossing his arms as he processed the information.

Jay remained quiet, his gaze locked on the ground.

Zane processed the information, his gaze lighting up with a sort of understanding.

“The Overlord seeks to become the Golden Master and bring about the final sunset.” The Master of Ice spoke, glancing at the others.

Nya nodded. “Yes, it’s why he’s been searching for Lloyd over retrieving the Techno Blades, if he gets his hands on Lloyd’s powers, then the Techno Blades would be useless.” The Mistress of Fire and Water, shifted on her feet, Kai was helping The Overlord in gaining powers that would make him unstoppable.

Jay blinked and looked at Cole, the Master of Earth frowning. “The Techno Blades would be powerless because he wouldn’t be in the system anymore, he’d have gained a new physical form.”  Zane realised, the Master of Ice looking at Nya with worry.

“But he’d have the powers of The First Spinjitzu Master, no one would be able to stop him.” Cole concluded, the Master of Earth uncrossing his arms and slamming his fists together. “It’s just like the Serpentine said, with no equal adversary, he would go unmatched.”

Jay bounced on his feet, eyes wide. “We need to warn Lloyd!”

Nya nodded in agreement with her boyfriend, turning to begin making their leave before she paused. “Wait, we still don’t know who else is working with The Overlord, since Skales confirmed no Serpentine with white scales were out when we were attacked means we’re just back to square one.”

Before any further conversation could happen, one of the Serpentine cried out in alarm. “We’re under attack! Protect the young!”

Nya rolled a fist, watching as Nindroids made their approach, including their general. “Nindroids.” Cole grumbled, irritation in his voice as he readied himself to fight.

“Ugh!” Jay noted in agreement. “These toasters never know when to quit.”

Nya summoned water to her hands and glanced at the others. “Protect the Serpentine.” Without hesitation, she surged forward, sending a stream of water into the oncoming horde, as she had expected, it did little to knock them off their feet, but was able to stun them long enough for her to crash into them with her spinjitzu.

With four Nindroids down, she noted that several dozen more still remained, and though the Serpentine warriors were doing their best to keep them back, the Nindroid were simply stronger. With a grunt, she kicked off the ground, grabbing onto the shoulders of another Nindroid and twisting her body, kicking out at another two before using all her might to flip the she’d grabbed onto the ground.

She stumbled back when something slammed into her, the nindroid general cackling with laughter as he towered above her. “So, this is the future of the fearless Serpentine.” He waves towards the children.

“I’m not impressed.” The voice that came through was different, it was the general’s voice, it was Kai’s. “Come now, little sister, a year in our parent’s store, forging weapons and this is all you can do?” Nya pushed herself forward, using her greater agility to evade the generals strikes.

The general was fast, grabbing her wrist and tossing her to the ground. “I suppose this is the best Garmadon’s daughter can manage. Cryptor, do with them as you please, so long as they live.” The general laughed, red eye narrowed as he advanced on her.

“The Supreme Commander is generous.” He laughed, flaying out his fingers as he readied to strike when a burst of spinjitzu slammed into him, sending him flying across the room.

Jay reached down, pulling her to her feet before the two faced Cryptor together, the Nindroid General laughing as a dozen Nindroid’s gathered behind him. “Ugh, if only we could figure out what powered them, this would all be a whole lot easier.” The Master of Lightning complained.

In the corner of their vision, they saw Cole disable one, the Master of Earth frowning upon what he saw. “Hey, they’re powered by some sort of eel thing inside their backs.” With that information in mind, Jay and Nya exchanged a look with one another being spinning around and surging forward, tornadoes of Elemental Power surrounding them as they swept through the Nindroid ranks.

As they stood finished spinning, they stood in a sea of unpowered Nindroids, admiring their work, as Zane moved to join the others, something grabbed his foot. Looking down, he gasped, a Nindroid with purple eyes stared up at him. “Foolish Nindroid, you are helping the wrong side.”

The Master of Ice pulled his leg away, narrowing his gaze at the Nindroid. “The Overlord!” He cried, rolling a fist as he readied himself. “You’ll never succeed, not if we have anything to say about it.”

The dark entity laughed. “I already have, you’ve unknowingly led me straight to the Golden Ninja, this was merely a diversion to keep you busy.” Zane moved fast, striking the power cords of the Nindroid and looking at the others as Skales slithers forward.

“The boy holds too much power, I fear the Curse of The Golden Master is upon us.” The Serpentine King glanced at Acidicus, the Venomari General nodding in agreement.

“The dawn of the end of times is near.”

Nya glanced at the others. “We have to get to Lloyd before they do.” Looking to Skales, sighs. “Are you sure you won’t help us?”

Skales nods. “I’m sorry, we made an oath never to return to the surface. Good luck.” As the ninja begin to leave, he frowns. “Oh, one more thing.” As the four turn back, Skales slithers forward. “There’s only one Serpentine whose had a history of being so fond of using Electro-Cobrai.”

“Who?”

“Pythor.”

Garmadon smiles as they approach what is perhaps the most beautiful landscape he’s ever seen. “The jewel of the labyrinth, it’s…”

“The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Lloyd speaks up, looking over the small oasis.

The Master of Destruction nods. “Yes, beauty can be born even in darkness.” He pauses, the two turning at the sound of trees being cut down. “They’ve found you, you must leave.” He turns, watching as Wu leaps from the bushes, the corrupted Master of Creation surging forward with great speed.

Garmadon is quick to parry his brothers blows. “Go! I said leave!” He cries back to Lloyd shortly. Using his powers, he summons a bike and speeds off into the jungle, focusing his attention on the path ahead of him.

As trees and foliage race past him at terminal speeds, he notes several Nindroids in pursuit, each of them gaining on him. Noting the layout of the trees, Lloyd rapidly guides his bike, causing the Nindroids to crash into one another and the various trees.

“Golden Ninja.” A voice speaks, causing Lloyd to turn his attention to his left, noting Lasha’s presence upon a Nindroid vehicle. “You can’t escape from him.” Lloyd accelerates, doing his best to loose the Venomari trailing him, though no matter what he does, the Serpentine Scout keeps up with him.

Lloyd glances around, looking for something to help him loose his unwanted tail, though find nothing. “Woah!” He cries out, speeding out of the jungle and coming to a rapid stop before a cliff.

Behind him, he hears Lasha come to a stop, but not approach. Frowning, he turns, eyes going wide as the mech dragon hovers up into view, it’s mouth open where he spots Kai standing with a smirk and Wu holding Garmadon obey the edge.

“Go, Lloyd! And never look back.” Garmadon calls out, but Kai steps forward.

“Run and your family will suffer a fate worse than death.” The Master of Fire and Water smirks, watching the Golden Ninja closely. “Oh, and your friends won’t be coming to your aid anytime soon, not with Cryptor keeping them occupied.”

Lloyd grunts, summoning his powers before a mechanical snake wraps itself around him. “My power’s gone!” He cries out in surprise.

“Hello, old chum.”

Lloyd widens’ his eyes as he turns to face Pythor. “Pythor! I though you were…”

Pythor shakes his head. “Gone? Actually, I suffered a worse fate.” He turned, looking at Wu. “Digested in the bowels of the Devourer, it can wreak havoc on one’s complexion. Fortunately for Wu, he escaped unscathed.”

Lloyd felt himself be forced onto the dragon, Kai smiling as the fallen ninja watched. “I couldn’t leave you. I can’t do this alone, I failed you, father.” Lloyd spoke quietly. Garmadon nodded.

“It’s ok, son. It is I who failed…” He was cut off when Kai turned.

“He is no longer of importance to the plan, toss him overboard.”

Lloyd screamed as Garmadon fell. “Be strong, son. I will find you!”

Kai pushed Lloyd further into the dragon. “The ninja will be desperate and do whatever they can to stop us. Pythor, take Wu and the army, stop them at any cost, but keep them alive. I want them to witness the rise of the Golden Master.”

With Pythor and Wu left behind on the cliff, the dragon takes off, leaving them behind.